Shelf-release vendor



y 1966 LE ROY F. DE SHON ETAL 3,252,616

SHELF-RELEASE VENDOR Filed Oct. 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSI L EROYF. DESHON OH N E R4 GA L BY Q y 1966 LE ROY F. DE SHON ETAL 3,252,616

SHELF-RELEASE VENDOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1964 INVENTORS LEROY/T DES'HO/V JUH/V Fg /RAGAL BY LA 42 y 1966 LE ROY F. DE SHON ETAL 3,252,616

SHELF-RELEASE VENDOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 12, 1964 IN VEN TORS. LEROY F DESHO/V JOHN F. SHHAGAL y 1966 LE ROY F. DE SHON ETAL 3,252,616

SHELF-RELEASE VENDOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 153, 1964 57 INVENTOR$69 LEHOYF. DESHO/V' JOHN F HRAGAL BY QQJ United States Patent 3,252,616 SHELF-RELEASE VENDOR Le Roy F. De Shun, Park Forest, and John F. Shragal, River Grove, Ill., assignors to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,151 11 Claims. (Cl. 22190) This invention relates to coin-operated vending machines and more particularly to a novel shelf-release storage magazine adapted for use in such machines.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises a magazine for coin-operated vending machines and the like in which a plurality of storage sections are provided, each section having a series of parallelly aligned shelves disposed in a vertical column. The shelves have flanges extending downwardly from the rear edges thereof, and the flanges are pivotally attached to the magazine frame, the shelves thereby being movable from a generally horizontal article-retaining position to a generally vertical article-dispensing position. The shelves are normally maintained in the article-retaining position by a series of latches which engage the magazine frame. A link member is pivotally attached to each shelf flange and the link member moves from a rearward position to a forward operative position whenever the corresponding shelf pivots to its article-dispensing position. An operating member is slidably mounted on the frame, and pawl members, one for each shelf, are pivoted to the operating member. When one of the link members is in its forward operative position (i.e., when the corresponding shelf is pivoted to its article-dispensing position), vertical movement of the operating member results in rotation of a given one of the pawl members associated with the corresponding shelf, and this pawl member thereby disengages the latch on the next-above shelf from the frame, so that the next-above shelf pivots to its article-dispensing position, while its corresponding link member is drawn into its operative position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for use in coin-operated vending machines and the like an improved storage magazine comprising a plurality of storage elements each characterized by a series of shelves arranged in a vertical column, each shelf being pivoted at the rear and held in an article-retaining position-by a releasable latch, and further comprising new and improvide means by which the shelves may be released to an article-dispensing position in ascending succession.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and reliable mechanism for successively releasing the shelves in a storage magazine of the character described.

Still another object is to provide a storage magazine of the character described in which the shelves are quickly and easily returnable to the article-retaining position from the article-dispensing position.

A still further object is to provide a storage magazine of the character described in which the shelves are removably mounted.

Yet another object is to provide a storage magazine of the character described in which the shelf-releasing mechanism is positioned at the rear of the magazine, thereby permitting the magazine to be relatively narrow in width.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage magazine of the character described which is inexpensive to construct, which is easy to operate, and which comprises a minimum number of parts.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the -present invention will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary right side view of an individual storage element produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of i the storage element shown in FIGURE 1, as it appears with the shelf-releasing mechanism removed;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the element shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a. sectional view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a enlarged fragmentary right side view of a portion of the element shown in FIGURE 1, with all the shelves in an article-retaining position, and with certain parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8', but with the ibottommost shelf being shown in the process of moving to its article-dispensing position;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but with the bottommost shelf disposed in its article-dispensing position;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10, but with the next-above shelf being shown in the process of moving to its article-dispensing position;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the storage element shown in FIGURE 1 with parts removed to show the empty lock feature of the subject invention; and

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary right side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, with parts removed to show the empty lock feature.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 4 show an individual magazine storage section 21 comprising parallelly aligned vertical side walls 23 (having flanges 25 formed along the front edges thereof) and an interconnecting rear wall 27. While the exemplary e-mibodiment illustrated in the drawings has only a single storage section, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that practically any number of such sections may be provided in sideby-side disposition in a commercial coin-operated vending machine. In such case the side walls 23 would function as partitions separating adjacent sections. In fact, as seen in FIGURE 4, only one side wall 23 and rear wall 27 need to be provided per section, since the sections can be nested in side-by-side relationship.

A plurality of shelves 29 (preferably formed of plastic and having integral reinforcing ribs 31 on the underside thereof) are generally horizontally disposed one above another in a column between side walls 23. Each of the shelves 29 is provided with a flange 33 extending downwardly from the rearward edge thereof. As shown in FIGURE 6, a recessed projection 35 extends downwardly from each end of flange '33, and an arm 37, having a li 39 at one end thereof, is provided on one of the projections 3-5 on each flange 33. Arm 37 and lip 39 are integrally formed of a suitable spring material, such as flexible plastic.

A plurality of horizontal, transversely extending shafts 41 are pivotally mounted, one above the other, adjacent the rear wall 27. Each flange 33, which forms a part of a shelf 29, is pivotally mounted on one of the shafts 33 from shaft 41. Exertion of sufiicient force on shelf on, are provided, and each latch 47 is mounted on a flange 3-3. Each latch 47 is engageable with one of the tabs 45,

when its respective "shelf 29 is in its generally horizontal article-retaining position, thereby preventing shelf 29 from moving downwardly into the article-dispensing position. Each tab 45 may be bent slightly toward the front or rear of the section 21, where necessary, in order to maintain the corresponding shelf 29 closer to the horizontal when latched in its article-retaining position.

Preferably, each latch 47 and its corresponding lip 49 is integrally formed of a suitable flexible material such as spring wire. It is also preferred that latch 47 be removalbly attached to the corresponding flanges 33. A convenient means for removably mounting the latches 47 is utilized in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. As best seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, each end 51 of latch 47 engages a lug 53, which is preferably formed as an integral part of flange 3-3, and each lug 53 has a groove 55 formed therein into which an end 51 iits. Removal of latch 47 from flange 33 is accomplished by spreading the respective ends .51 of latch 47 which causes ends 51 to disengage lugs 55, thereby allowing latch 47 to be removed from flange '33.

A Z-shape'd supporting piece 57, comprising a back side 58, a side wall 59, and a front wall 60 (see FIGURE 4), is attached to rear wall 27 in any convenient manner (as by bolts). A plurality of guide slots 61, one for each opening 43, is cut in the supporting piece 57. A rearward portion 63 of each guide slot 61 is substantially horizon tal, and a central portion 65 inclines downwardly and terminates in a forward portion 67 which extends perpendicularly from portion 65- into front wall 60 of supporting piece '57 (see FIGURE 2). Portions 67 overlay respective openings 43, so that no part of frontwall 60 blocks the openings 43, over parts of which supporting piece 57 is mounted.

A vertically slidable operating channel 69, comprising a pair of side walls 71 and 73 and a back wall 75 (see FIGURE '2) is mounted on supporting piece 57 by means of a pair of pins 77 and 79 (which pass through a pair of slots 81 provided in back wall 75) and a corresponding pair of retaining clips 83. Operating channel 69 is normally maintained in a raised position by a. spring 85 which is stretched between pin 77 and a pin 87 which is fixed to back side 58 of supporting piece 57, and thus channel 69 is adapted for vertical reciprocal movement relative to supporting piece 57.

The side walls 23 are mounted on a base portion 8-8 by means of brackets 91 and 92 (see FIGURE 1). In actual operation, base portion 88 forms a part of the Vending machine in which the magazine storage section 21 is mounted. Conventional means are provided in base portion 88 for imparting vertical movement to operating channel 69 via actuating member 89. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that any convenient arrangement may be utilized to impart such vertical movement to operating channel 69. It will further be apparent that the movement imparting means may be controlled by a coinoperated mechanism (not shown) of any suitable type, such as a conventional selector plunger arrangement that operates by means of a rack and pinion drive to reciprocally elevate operating channel 69 pursuant to reciprocal movement of a selector plunger, such as the plunger P shown in FIGURE 1.

A plurality of slots 93 (see FIGURES 8-10), one for each slot 61, is formed in side wall 71 of operating channel '69. A slot extension 95, also formed in side wall 71, extends forwardly from each slot 93 and is substantially honizontally aligned with the corresponding rearward slot portion 63- of operating channel 69 When'the said channel is disposed in its normal, raised position.

A plurality of link members 97, each with a rear actuating projection 99 and a longer front projection 101 extending perpendicularly therefrom, is provided, one

link member 97 being associated with a given shelf 29.

Each front projection 101 is pivo-tally received in a recess 103 in the corresponding flange 33 (see FIGURE 5), and each actuating projection 99 passes through the corresponding overlying rearward slot portion 63 (in supporting piece 57) and slot 93 (in operating channel 69).

When shelf 29 moves downwardly from its substantially horizontal article-retaining position, link member 97 is drawn after it, with front projection 101 pivoting in recess 103. As link member 97 moves in coordination with shelf 29, actuating projection 99'is pulled forwardly in the corresponding overlying rearward slot portion 63 and slot93. Forward movement of actuating projection 99, and thus the downward movement of shelf 29, are impeded since a movement limiting edge 105 of slot 93 abuts actuating projection 99 when operating channel 69 is in a position other than its raised. position (see especially FIGURES 9 and l l). When, however, channel 69 is in its raised position, slot edge 105 no longer restrains projection 99, and projection 99 slides to a forward position in slot portion 63, past slot extension and toward the upper extremity of slot portion 65 (see, for example, projection 99a disposed adjacent slot portion 65a in FIGURE 10). Thus, shelf 29 is allowed to move to its article-dispensing position (see, for example, shelf 29a in FIGURE 10).

A plurality of pawls 107 (see FIGURE 5), one for each shelf 29, is provided, each pawl 107 being pivotally mounted on a pawl pin 109 on the inside of side 73 of operating channel 69. A pawl extension 111 extends forwardly at a downward angle from each pawl 107. Each pawl 107 is positioned so that when it is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURE 5) its pawl extension 111 is rotated upwardly and moves against the lip 49 on the corresponding 1atch 47, disengaging the said latch 47 from its corresponding retaining tab 45.

A lug 113 (see FIGURES 1 and 2) is provided on side wall 59 of supporting piece 57 beneath the bottommost pawl 107. Whenever operating channel 69 is moved downwardly, the bottommost pawl 107 is contacted by lug 113, thereby causing bottommost pawl 107 to pivot upwardly, and the pawl extension 111 thereof causes the corresponding latch 47 to be disengaged. While operating channel 69 is maintained in a lowered position, the corresponding shelf 29 is prevented from moving to its article-dispensing position by the corresponding link member 97, the actuating projection 99 of which abuts against the movement limiting slot edge of slot 93. When operating channel 69 is returned to its raised position, slot extension 95 comes into line with actuating projection 99 and shelf 29 is allowed to move downwardly to its article-dispensing position. Link member 97 is drawn downwardly and forwardly by movement of shelf 29,

with actuating projection 99 moving in overlying rear-v ward slot portion 63 and slot extension 95 to a forward position wherein it is positioned under the next-above pawl 107.

In this forward position, actuating projection 99 lies substantially along a vertical line passing through lug 113. Thus, when operating channel 69 is again moved downwardly, the next-above pawl 107 moves against the actuating projection 99 beneath the said pawl (since the said projection is, in its forward position), and the nextabove pawl 107 rotates in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURE 5), withthe pawl extension 111 thereof causing the latch 47 on the next-above shelf 29 to be disengaged from its corresponding retaining tab 45.

Other pawls 107,'positioned above the pivoting pawls 107, do not pivot upwardly since the actuating projections 99 on link members 97 associated with the shelves 29 held in the article-retaining position remain rearwardly disposed in their respective overlying slots 93 and rearward slot portions 63.

Each pawl 107 is provided with a rear flange 114 (see especially FIGURES 4 and 5), and counterclockwise rotation of each pawl 107 is limited by flange 114 abutting against back wall 75 of operating channel 69 (see FIG- URE 5). The flange 114 on each pawl 107 above the bottommost pawl is also adapted to engage the adjacent actuating projection 99 when it is disposed in its rearward position (see, for example, FIGURE 8). Thus, so long as a given projection 99 is rearwardly disposed, it is impossible for the pawl 107 to be pivoted upwardly so as to release its corresponding latch 47. The only pawl 107 not so limited (aside from the bottommost pawl 107, which is always free to pivot upwardly) is the pawl 107 associated with the bottomniost unreleased shelf 29, the corresponding projection 99 having been pulled to its forward position by the release of the shelf 29 next-below. Thus, accidental release of a shelf 29, out of the proper sequence, is prevented.

Each pawl 107 is gravity biased so that after being pivoted upwardly as hereinbefore described, it pivots back to its original position as operating channel 69 is returned to its raised position. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other suitable biasing means, such as a plurality of springs, might be utilized in place of the gravity biasing used in the preferred embodiment described herein.

FIGURES 8, 9, l0, and 11 illustrate in sequence the operation of the shelf-releasing mechanism disclosed herein. In these figures, three shelves and their associated releasing elements are shown. The numbers used therein are in correspondence with those utilized elsewhere except that for greater descriptional clarity the lower shelf and its associated parts are designated by the reference letter a, the middle shelf and associated parts by the reference letter b, and the top shelf and associated parts by the reference letter c.

In FIGURE 8 all three shelves, 29a, 29b, and 290 are held in the substantially horizontal article-retaining position by their respective latches 47a, 47b, and 47c, which are engaged with respective retaining tabs 45a, 45b, and

, 45c, and operating channel 69 (from which side 73 has been removed for clarity) is in its raised position. In FIGURE 9, operating channel 69 has been moved to its lowered position, and pawl 107a, having contacted lug 113, has rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG- URE 9), and thus pawl extension 111a has caused the disengagement of latch 47a from tab 450 by moving against lip 49a. Shelf 29a is prevented from moving to its article-dispensing position by link member 97a, since actuating projection 99a abuts against movement limiting edge 105a of slot 93a.

In FIGURE. 10, operating channel 69 has returned to its raised position, moving slot extension 95a upwardly until it again lies substantially in line with rearward slot portion 6311. This allows actuating projection 99a to slide to a forward position in overlying slot extension 95a and rearward slot portion 63a, which in turn permits shelf 29a to rotate to the article-dispensing position as shown in FIGURE 10. Thus, flange 114b on pawl 10712 no longer engages projection 99a, and thus pawl 107b is free to pivot upwardly in a clockwise direction. In FIGURE 11, operating channel as has been depressed once again. Pawl 107b has rotated upwardly after striking against rear projection 99a (which is in its forward position), and pawl extension 111b is moved against latch lip 4%, thereby causing latch 4712 to be disengaged from tab 4712.

'Shelf 29b is prevented from rotating downwardly by link member 9712, projection 99b of which is held in place by edge 105b of slot 93b.

ventional devices).

The novel shelf-releasing mechanism described herein differs markedly from those heretofore employed. Conventional releasing mechanisms have utilized latch tripping elements, each of which is normally biased to release a given latching element, but which is normally prevented from releasing the latching element by a. restraining element, typically associated with the shelf next-below the given shelf. The restraining element usually ceases to restrain actuation of the tripping element whenever the next-below shelf is released. The subject invention, how-' ever, employs a completely different arrangement. The tripping element (pawl 107) is biased so as normally not to release the latching element (latch 47). It is only when the link member 97 (and actuating projection 99 thereon), associated with the next-below shelf member, is moved to its operative position that the tripping element (pawl 107) can be actuated (contrary to its normal bias) by moving the operating channel 69. Thus, the present actuating projection 99 does more than merely cease to restrain the latch tripping element (pawl 107) upon release of the next-below shelf (as is true in con- Rather the actuating projection 99, employed in the subject invention, provides the means by which operating channel 69 causes the tripping element (pawl 107) to pivot contrary to its bias, and thereby release a corresponding latching element (latch 47).

The described arrangement prevents a given shelf 29 from rotating to its article-dispensing position after its latch 47 has been disengaged from the corresponding tab 45 until operating channel 69 has been returned to its raised position. This feature prevents more than one shelf 29 from being released upon a single actuation of the-operating channel 69. If shelf 29 were permitted to move to the article-dispensing position immediately upon disengagement of latch 47 from tab 45 while operating channel 69 is in its lowered position, projection 99 would be pulled to its forward position (by movement of the released shelf 29), and in the process the next-above pawl 107 would be rotated in a clockwise direction, so that its pawl extension 111 would engage the next-above latch 47 to cause the next-above shelf to move to its articledispensing position, and so on until all the shelves 29 would be in the article-dispensing position or until the operating channel 69 had been returned to its raised position. The novel arrangement utilized in the present invention prevents such multiple shelf release and instead gives the releasing mechanism its steady, reliable, operational characteristics, by virtue of which a one-shelf-at-a time shelf-releasing operation 'is completed only after channel 69 is returned to its raised position.

Preferably, means are provided for locking operating channel 69 whenever the topmost shelf is released to its article-dispensing position. One of the many possible suitable arrangements to achieve this result is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. A lever 115 is pivoted to side wall 59 by means of a pin 117. Lever 115 has a slot 119 cut therein which is normally aligned with the topmost rearward slot portion 63, and lever 115 also has formed thereon a projecting tab 121. Lever 115 is counterbalanced so that it is gravity biased to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURE 1), such rotation being normally prevented by the topmost actuating projection 99 which passes through slot 119 of lever 115. In the embodiment herein described, lever 115 is gravity biased, although substantially any suitable biasing means (such as a spring load) may be utilized.

When the topmost shelf 29 is released to its article-retaining position, projection 99 moves to its forward position, and lever 115 is allowed to rotate, under the influence of gravity, in a counterclockwise direction to a lowered position. A connecting link 123 of wire or other suitable material is fixed to projecting tab 121 (see FIG- URES 1 and 2, wherein the upper portion of link 123 is shown). Link 123 extends substantially the entire vertical length of the storage section. At its lower end link 123 is fixed to a projecting tab 125 on a locking lever 127, which is pivoted to rear wall 27 at a point adjacent the lower edge thereof by means of a pin 129 and a retaining washer 131 (see FIGURES 12 and 13). Thus, when lever 115 moves to a lowered position, upon the release of the topmost shelf 29, locking lever 127 pivots in a counterclockwise direction from the full line position shown in FIGURE 12 to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 12. A locking tab 133 extends downwardly from lever 127 (see FIGURES 12 and 13), and tab 133 is adapted to fit in a notch 135 provided in actuating member 89. Thus, when lever 127 moves to its FIGURE 12 broken line disposition, tab 133 enters notch 135, thereby impeding movement of actuating member 89. With member 89 thus immobilized, vertical movement cannot be imparted to operating channel 69, and, hence the mechanism is locked.

When the topmost shelf 29 is returned to its articleretaining position, lever 115 pivots in a clockwise direc-,

tion as it is pulled upwardly by the topmost actuating projecting to its normal disposition (see FIGURES 1 and 2). As lever 115 pivots upwardly, link 123 pulls locking lever 127 upwardly, tab 133 being disengaged from notch 135, thereby freeing actuating member 89 for reciprocal movement. Thus, the shelf-releasing mechanism may again be actuated.

Although the empty locking mechanism herein disclosed is a preferred one, any other suitable means for impeding movement of operating channel 69 or actuating member 89 upon release of the topmost shelf 29 may be utilized in accordance with the teachings of the subject invention.

One of the many advantages of the present invention is the ease with which the storage section 21 can be reloaded. When a shelf 29, disposed in the article-dispensing position, is manually raised, it pivots upwardly about its shaft 41, with link member 97 moving upwardly with shelf 29 and actuating projection 99 on link member 97 moving rearwardly in overlying rearward slot portion 63 and slot extension 95. So long as operating channel 69 is maintained in its lowered position, however, shelf 29 cannot be restored to the article-retaining position since slot extension 95 and rearward slot portion 63 are out of alignment and, therefore, rearward movement of projection 99 is prevented by the forward edge of side 71 of operating channel 69. When operating channel 69 is returned to its normal raised position, each slot extension 95 is brought into overlying alignment with the corresponding rearward slot portion 63, and a given projection 99 is free to slide to its rearward position. Shelf 29 may thus be raised to its article-dispensing position, latch 47 re-engaging its corresponding retaining tab 45. The resetting of shelves 29 may readily be accomplished "by rippling ones hand across the edges of shelves 29 so as to successively flick shelves upwardly in a rapid manner thus enabling the latches 47 to re-engage the corresponding tabs 45 and the actuating projections 99 to move to the rear in overlying rearward slot portions 63 and in slots 93.

Another advantage of the present invention is that, since the releasing mechanism is substantially entirely located behind rear wall 27, the side walls 23 may be positioned relatively closely together. In the case of a coinoperated vending machine comprising a plurality of storage sections of the type herein disclosed, many storage sections can be included in a relatively narrow space, thereby providing a vending machine with an attractive, yet useful, configuration.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated. It should be further understood that various changes, modifications and alterations may be effected in the parts and elements of the described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine storage element adapted to store articles on shelf members stationed in horizontal article-retaining positions and to dispense articles as the shelf members are moved in ascending succession to vertical article-dispensing positions, and comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of shelf members horizontally disposed one above the other in a column;

means mounting each shelf member for pivotal movement with respect to the frame member;

a pluralityof latching means, one attached to each shelf member;

a plurality of retaining means on the frame member, one for each shelf member, and each retaining means being engageable by a corresponding latching means when the corresponding shelf member is disposed in a horizontal article-retaining position;

an operating member, mounted on the frame member for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position;

biasing means normally urging the operating member toward its first position;

a plurality of actuating means, one for each shelf member, each actuating means being pivotally connected to a corresponding shelf member and movable therewith; r

a plurality of guide means, one for each actuating -means, each guide means being adapted to guide a corresponding actuating means between a first position and a second position respectively when ever the corresponding shelf member pivots between its article-retaining and article-dispensing positions;

a plurality of latch releasing means, one for each shelf member above the bottommost shelf member, each latch releasing means being rotatably mounted on the operating, member between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, each latch releasing means being adapted to pivot from its first to its second rotational position upon movement of the oper ating member from its first to its second position only when the actuating means associated with the nextbelow shelf member is disposed in its second position, and each latch releasing means being adapted to cause disengagement of the corresponding latching means from the corresponding retaining means when pivoted from its first to its second rotational position;

a bottommost latch releasing means rotatably mounted on the operating member between a first and a second rotational position, the bottommost latch releasing means being adapted to cause disengagement of the latching means on the bottommost shelf member from the corresponding retaining means whenever pivoted from its first to its second rotational position;

means for causing the bottommost latch releasing means to pivot from its first to its second rotational position whenever the operating member is moved from its first to its second position;

biasing means normally urging each of the said latch releasing means toward the respective first rotational position thereof; and

means for reciprocally moving the operating member between its first and second positions,

whereby the shelf members are released to their respective article-dispensing positions one-at-a-time in ascending succession upon repeated reciprocal movement of the operating member.

2. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 1,

and further comprising:

a plurality of movement limiting means, one for each actuating means, each being adapted to permit move- 'ment of a corresponding actuating means between its first and second positions only when the operating member is disposed in its first position.

3. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising locking means for preventing reciprocal movement of the operating member whenever all of the shelf members are disposed in their respective article-dispensing positions.

4. A magazine storage element adapted to store articles on shelf members stationed in horizontal article-retaining positions and to dispense articles as the shelf members are moved in ascending succession to vertical articledispensing positions, and comprising:

a pair of parallelly aligned vertical side wall members;

a vertical rear wall disposed generally perpendicularly to the planes of the side wall members;

a plurality of generally horizontal shaft members journaled one above the other in the side wall members adjacent the rear wall member;

a plurality of shelf members, one for each shaft member, each shelf member being disposed one above the other in a column;

a downwardly extending flange on each shelf member, each flange being adapted to be mounted on one of the shaft members whereby each shelf member is pivotable between a generally horizontal articleretaining position and a generally vertical articledispensing position;

a plurality of openings, one for each shelf member, formed one above the other in the rear wall member;

a retaining tab projecting into each of the openings;

a plurality of spring latch members, one for each shelf member, each latch member being mounted on the flange of the shelf member associated therewith, and each latch member being engagable with a corresponding retaining tab when the corresponding shelf member is disposed in its articleqetaimng disposition;

a supporting member on the rear wall member;

a plurality of guide slots, one for each shelf member, formed one above the other in the supporting member;

a plurality of link members, one for each shelf member, each link member being pivotally attached on one of theflanges and movable therewith;

an actuating projection on each link member, each actuating projection passing through a corresponding guide slot in the supporting member, each link projection being slidable in its corresponding guide slot between a first position and a second position respectively whenever the corresponding shelf member pivots between its article-retaining position and its article-dispensing position;

an operating member mounted on the supporting member for reciprocal movement between a first linear position and a second linear position;

biasing means normally urging the operating member toward its first linear position;

a plurality of pawl members, one for each she-1f member above the bottommost shelf member, each pawl member being rotatably mounted, one above the other, on the operating member between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, each pawl member being adapted to pivot from its first to its second rotational position upon movement of the operating member from its first to its second linear position, only when the link projection associated with the next below shelf member is disposed in its second position, and each pawl member being adapted to cause disengagement of the corresponding latch member from the corresponding retaining tab when pivoted from its first to its sec ond rotational position;

a bottommost pawl member rotatably mounted on the operating'member between a first and a second rotational position, the said bottommost pawl member being adapted to cause disengagement of the latch member on the bottommost shelf member from the corresponding retaining tab when pivoted from its first to its second rotational position;

means for causing the bottommost pawl member to pivot from its first to its second rotational position whenever the operating member is moved from its first to its second linear position;

biasing means norm-ally urging each said pawl member toward its respective first rotational position; and

means for reciprocally moving the operating member between its first and second positions,

whereby the shelf members are released to their respective article-dispensing positions one-at-a-time in ascending succession upon repeated reciprocal movement of the operating member.

5. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4,

and further comprising:

a plurality of movement limiting slots in the operating member, one for each of the guide slots, each said movement limiting slot overlying a corresponding guide slot only when the operating member is disposed in its first linear position,

whereby the corresponding actuating projecting is permitted to move between its first and second positions only when the operating member is disposed in its first linear position.

6. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4, and further comprising locking means for preventing reciprocal movement of the operating member whenever all of the shelf members are disposed in their respective article-dispensing positions.

7. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each spring latch member is removably mounted on its corresponding flange.

8. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each flange is removably mounted on its corresponding shaft member.

9. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each pawl member is gravity biased toward its first rotational position,

10. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating member is spring biased toward its first linear position.

11. In a vending machine, a storage magazine adapted to store articles on shelf members stationed in a horizontal article-retaining position and to dispense articles as the shelf members are moved in ascending succession to vertical article-dispensing positions, and comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of generally par allelly aligned partition members;

a plurality of shelf members, horizontally disposed one above the other in columns between the partition members;

means mounting each shelf member for pivotal movement with respect to the frame member;

a plurality of latching means, one attached to each shelf member;

a plurality of retaining means on the frame member, one for each shelf member, each retaining means being engagable by a corresponding latching means when the corresponding shelf member is disposed in a horizontal article-retaining position;

a plurality of operating members, one for each column of shelf members, each operating member being mounted on the frame member for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position;

biasing means normally urging each operating member toward its first position;

a plurality of actuating means, one for each shelf member, each actuating means being pivotally connected to a corresponding shelf member and movable therewith;

a plurality of guide means, one for each actuating means, each guide means being adapted to guide a a plurality of latch releasing means, one for each 5 7 3,252,616 1 l 12 corresponding actuating means between a first poon the corresponding bottommost shelf member sition and a second position respectively whenever from the corresponding retaining means whenever the corresponding shelf member pivots between its pivoted from its first to its second rotational position; article-retaining and article-dispensing positions; means for causing each bottommost latch releasing means to pivot from its first "to its second rotational position whenever the corresponding operating member is moved from its first to its second position; biasing means normally urging each latch releasing I means toward its first rotational position; and means for selectively reciprocally moving each operating member between its first and second positions,

whereby the shelf members in each 'column are reshelf memlber above the bottornmost shelf member in each column, each being rotatably mounted on a corresponding operating member between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, each latch releasing member being adapted 10 to pivot from its first to its second rotational position upon movement of the corresponding opleased to their respective article-dispensing positions one-ata-time in ascending succession upon repeated reciprocal movement of the corresponding operating member.

adapted to cause disengagement of the corresponding latching means from the corresponding retaining means when pivoted from its first to its second ro- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS tationfll P 3 20 2,483,352 9/1949 Settecasi 221-90 a plurality of bottommost latch releasing means, one 2,827,200 3/1958 Lux for each column of shelf members, each bottornmost 2,896,817 7/1959 Holstein latch releasing means being rotatably mounted on 2956 707 v10/1960 stayton the corresponding operating member between a first position and a second position, and each bottom- 25 RAPHAEL LUPO, Primary Examiner most latch releaslng means being adapted to cause disengagement of the corresponding latching means WALTER Assistant Exammer' 

1. A MAGAZINE STORAGE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO STORE ARTICLES ON SHELF MEMBERS STATIONED IN HORIZONTAL ARTICLE-RETAINING POSITIONS AND TO DISPENSE ARTICLES AS THE SHELF MEMBERS ARE MOVED IN ASCENDING SUCCESSION TO VERTICAL ARTICLE-DISPENSING POSITIONS, AND COMPRISING: A FRAME MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF SHELF MEMBERS HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER IN A COLUMN; MEANS CONNECTING EACH SHELF MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FRAME MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF LATCHING MEANS, ONE ATTACHED TO EACH SHELF MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF RETAINING MEANS ON THE FRAME MEMBER, ONE FOR EACH SHELF MEMBER, AND EACH RETAINING MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE BY A CORRESPONDING LATCHING MEANS WHEN THE CORRESPONGING SHELF MEMBER IS DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL ARTICLE-RETAINING POSITION; AN OPERATING MEMBER, MOUNTED ON THE FRAME MEMBER FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION AND A SECOND POSITION; BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING THE OPERATING MEMBER TOWARD ITS FIRST POSITION; A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING MEANS, ONE FOR EACH SHELF MEMBER, EACH ACTUATING MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A CORRESPONDING SHELF MEMBER AND MOVABLE THEREWITH; A PLURALITY OF GUIDE MEANS, ONE FOR EACH ACTUATING MEANS, EACH GUIDE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO GUIDE A CORRESPONDING ACTUATING MEANS BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION AND A SECOND POSITION RESPECTIVELY WHEN EVER THE R CORRESPONDING SHELF MEMBER PIVOTS BETWEEN ITS ARTICLE-RETAINING AND ARTICLE-DISPENSING POSITION; A PLURALITY OF LATCH RELEASING MEANS, ONE FOR EACH SHELF MEMBER ABOVE THE BOTTOMMOST SHELF MEMBER, EACH LATCH RELEASING MEANS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN A FIRST ROTATIONAL POSITION AND A SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION, EACH LATCH RELEASING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PIVOT FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF THE OPERATING MEMBER FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND POSITION ONLY WHEN THE ACTUATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEXTBELOW SHELF MEMBER IS DISPOSED IN ITS SECOND POSITION, AND EACH LATCH RELEASING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CORRESPONDING LATCHING MEANS FROM THE CORRESPONDING RETAINING MEANS WHEN PIVOTED FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION; A BOTTOMMOST LATCH RELEASING MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION, THE BOTTOMMOST LATCH RELEASING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCHING MEANS ON THE BOTTOMMOST SHELF MEMBER FROM THE CORRESPONDING RETAINING MEANS WHENEVER PIVOTED FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION; MEANS FOR CAUSING THE BOTTOMMOST LATCH RELEASING MEANS TO PIVOT FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION WHENEVER THE OPERATING MEMBER IS MOVED FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND POSITION; BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING EACH OF THE SAID LATCH RELEASING MEANS TOWARD THE RESPECTIVE FIRST ROTATIONAL POSITION THEREOF; AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY MOVING THE OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN ITS FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, WHEREBY THE SHELF MEMBERS ARE RELEASED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ARTICLE-DISPENSING POSITIONS ONE-AT-A-TIME IN ASCENDING SUCCESSION UPON REPEATED RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THE OPERATING MEMBER. 